Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Itanagar: Lawmakers met in New Delhi on October 13 to tackle the escalating threat of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources gathered at Samanvay in Parliament House. Chairman Rajiv Pratap Rudy led the session. Rajya Sabha MP Tai Tagak joined senior officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Department of Water Resources to evaluate regional water security.
Glaciers are melting fast. The committee scrutinized the formation of expanding glacial lakes and the impact of black carbon deposits. These shifts threaten downstream communities and vital infrastructure. Members called for better monitoring, early-warning systems, and rigorous scientific assessments to save lives.
Tagak pushed for better resource management in the North-Eastern and Himalayan regions. He specifically noted the dangers of rapid urban expansion, such as poor stormwater control, spring-water management, and dam safety. The group also tackled recurring disasters like cloudbursts, landslides, and seasonal floods. They debated the enforcement of floodplain management to stop unregulated settlement and encroachment near riverbanks.
The discussion shifted to agricultural efficiency. Officials reviewed the Per Drop More Crop program and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. This includes expanding drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. They want to boost water efficiency in areas that practice three-crop cultivation.
The committee assessed soil erosion and groundwater recharge issues across the North-East. The body examined the restoration of water sources under pressure from hydropower projects and construction. During the review, Tagak stated the importance of "strengthening water-resource management and conservation, particularly in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan and North-Eastern regions." Leaders agreed that future water planning must rely on science and disaster preparedness to survive changing hydrological patterns.
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